Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 23628Aggravated burglary; assault causing harm · Co. Offaly · 1 Sep 2019

Two men sentenced for assaults and aggravated burglary in Clara, Offaly

Dylan Coughlan and Wayne Dolan were sentenced at Tullamore Circuit Court to a total of 18 years in prison for assaulting John Sheerin and Derek Tuite and for aggravated burglary. The offences took place at homes in Clara, Co Offaly, on 1 September 2019.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced7 Dec
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAfter the burglary of Sheerin's home, the two men went to Tuite's house, gained entry through a window and assaulted him in his bed. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThey had been drinking with Tuite the previous evening and asked him to leave the door unlocked for their return. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThey entered Sheerin's home at about 5am through a rear window, beat him with shovels and threatened him with a knife. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • what€700 was taken from Sheerin's wallet when the men forced him to go to his kitchen with a knife at his back. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatSheerin was hit about 10 times and one man put a knife to his throat. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe men were masked with either balaclavas or women's tights. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatTwo men were sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison at Tullamore Circuit Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatDylan Coughlan was found guilty after a trial of assaulting John Sheerin, causing him harm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA jury found Dylan Coughlan guilty of assaulting Derek Tuite at his residence on the same date. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatBoth men were found guilty of aggravated burglary. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe assault on John Sheerin took place at his home in Kinclare, Clara. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on 1 September 2019. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeBoth men had serious issues with drug and alcohol abuse. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe two men armed themselves with a shovel and a bat and carried out both assaults at night. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe two men armed themselves with a shovel and a bat for the assaults. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeBoth men were also guilty of aggravated burglary. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtCoughlan was found guilty after a trial of assaulting John Sheerin causing harm at Kinclare, Clara on 1 September 2019. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtA jury found Coughlan guilty of assaulting Derek Tuite at 5 Railway View, Clara on the same date. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtWayne Dolan pleaded guilty to the same offences. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtDolan is still awaiting sentence for another aggravated burglary at Chapel Hill in Clara, which will be consecutive. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceCoughlan was sentenced to 10 years in prison with the final two years suspended. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceDolan was sentenced to eight years with the final two years suspended. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceConcurrent sentences of three years each were imposed for assaulting Tuite. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceCoughlan's sentence was backdated to 9 September 2020. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceDolan has already spent one year and 41 weeks in prison. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceConcurrent three-year sentences were imposed for assaulting Derek Tuite. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceDolan had already spent one year and 41 weeks in prison. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherJudge Keenan Johnson described Sheerin as an elderly vulnerable man now afraid to go out at night. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherCoughlan was on bail at the time of the offences and had 51 previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherDolan had absconded from the Cuan Mhuire addiction treatment centre earlier in the year. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMoney was taken from Sheerin's wallet after he was forced to the kitchen at knifepoint. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Dec2022
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, its first report
    Judge announces sentences midlands burglars who attacked pensioner with shovel

    Sentencing report. Coughlan and Dolan were found guilty after trial or pleaded guilty, and the judge imposed sentences, backdated for time in custody. The article also says Dolan is awaiting sentence for a separate aggravated burglary, which is not part of this case.

    convicted, Dylan Coughlan, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan Coughlanconvicted, Wayne Dolan, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Wayne Dolanvictim, John Sheerin, 70, male, irish (judged from name)John Sheerinvictim, Derek Tuite, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Tuite
  2. 7 Dec2022
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Judge announces sentences for Offaly burglars who attacked pensioner with shovel

    Provides full sentencing details (individual terms, backdating, concurrent sentences), trial evidence from both victims describing the assaults in detail, and additional background on the defendants' drug and alcohol issues, prior convictions, and bail status.

    victim, John Sheerin, 70, male, irish (judged from name)John Sheerinvictim, Derek Tuite, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Tuiteconvicted, Dylan Coughlan, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan Coughlanconvicted, Wayne Dolan, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Wayne Dolan